Blue PE MDPE in our house... Dodgy? Need changing?

[DIYNotIan]

Hi all

Our house has a fair amount of blue piping in it.... The piping says:

Qualplast
BS6572/1985
20mm
PE
Water
12 Bar

Is that standard MDPE piping or something else?

From what I've just learnt, this should be used underground only. And worse still it is apparently prone to bursting, leaking, etc.

Just wanted to check on here whether that is the case or not.

The areas where the piping is visible are:

- In the loft - from the tank to the section of the loft floor where it drops into the bathroom below. It then runs through a partition wall and comes out at the bottom (beneath the bath). Cannot see whether it is blue pipe all the way through the stud wall, but I'm guessing so... The blue pipe then feeds the cold water tap of the bath.
- Under the kitchen sink (just a little coming out from the floor, at which point it is joined to a copper pipe)
- There is a run of it from the top to the bottom of our airing cupboard.

I've no idea whether the same blue pipe is used under the flooring, etc. Nor do I know how it all connects or runs. But I'll post a diagram and/or any further info that might be needed to see where things are at.

What would be great to know though is if we are going to have to consider having all the blue piping replaced?

Huge thanks

Max

 

[denso13]

It's ok for use above ground as long as it's boxed in or protected from sunlight.

 

[RickMoore]

MDPE is used for underground use, and with water, outdoors, and in industrial premesis etc.

I don't know why anyone would choose to plumb a house in it, but it won't do any harm. Who says it's prone to leaks / bursts ? I've never noticed MDPE being any better or worse for leaks than anything else.

 

[doitall]

BS6572/1985 was primarily for underground services.

This standard has been withdrawn as it is no longer relevant and has been replaced by BS EN 12201-1:2003, BS EN 12201-2:2003 and BS EN 12201-5:2003.

I would say without a doubt, if there was a problem the insurance would wash their hands with it.

 

[denso13]

As long as it is protected from UV light there is no problem using it above ground. Not pretty mind you.

 

[Agile]

I like to bring it into the house and directly to the unvented cylinder without any joints. Thats to get maximum dynamic flow rate.

Is there any reason not to?

 

[RickMoore]

I like to bring it into the house and directly to the unvented cylinder without any joints. Thats to get maximum dynamic flow rate.

Is there any reason not to?

None that I can think off, so long as it still has an stop tap and drain off fitted at it's lowest point as it enters the property.

 

[algas]

Is this a farm job ?

 

[DIYNotIan]

Thanks for all the replies. The section we can see are all in dark areas (airing cupboard, under sink, under bath). We have not had the side of the bath on for the last couple of years, so it is lighter under there than it usually would be. But nothing like direct sunlight.

Does anything else make MDPE degrade quickly? Heat (it's in an airing cupboard)? Freezing (it's under the kitchen floor and I've no idea if it has been lagged)?

Cheers

 

[denso13]

No, it'll be fine.

 

[DIYNotIan]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Just wanted to check in again because someone has told me that it should be kept cool as well (below 12C). Would anyone be able to confirm if that is correct? It's just that we have a run of the pipe in the airing cupboard which obviously gets hot. And I suppose the rest of the stuff around the house gets well above 12C in summer.

Any thoughts would be great.

Cheers

Max

 

[Agile]

Farmers often run it to cattle troughs along hedges where its subjected to UV and daytime summer temps.

I am not aware they have much of a problem although the consequences of a burst are not very serious.

Tony

 

[DIYNotIan]

Thanks Agile. That's good to know.

Hopefully we'll be ok then, but if anyone thinks otherwise please pipe in (haha).

....although the consequences of a burst are not very serious.

Tony

Dehydrated cows?

 

[Agile]

I would expect most bursts would only be partial and still allow water to get to the trough.

The consumption of water by a herd of cows is quite considerable.

Something like 100-200 litres per day per milking cow!

 

[DIYNotIan]

WOW!